Loretta Breuning

Professor Emerita of International Management at California State U-East Bay. Author of I, Mammal and Meet Your Happy Chemicals. Psychology Today blogger at "Your Neurochemical Self."

Patronage Works in the Baboon World

Every baboon troop is led by an alpha who holds power until ousted by a challenger. Brute force makes you alpha among small-brained mammals like bovines, but in the primate

By Loretta Breuning

/ October 21, 2012

Why Are All Debate Moderators Democrats?

Debates are structured to convey fairness, but the moderators are always Democrats. If the moderators were Republican, people would notice. Why are Democrat journalists presumed “neutral,” while Republican journalists are

By Loretta Breuning

/ October 17, 2012

Why Are All Debate Moderators Democrats?

Reductionist Debate on Job Creation Defies Reality

I’m usually very choosy about my information sources, but a walk through an airport yesterday assaulted me with headlines on newsstands and monitors. One caption stopped me in my

By Loretta Breuning

/ October 8, 2012

Reductionist Debate on Job Creation Defies Reality

Psychology and the Politics of Greed

Greed is a big theme in this election. It’s easy to blame this on politicians, but they are playing to the prevailing mindset of voters. Psychologists did much to

By Loretta Breuning

/ September 27, 2012

Good News about Energy, Economy, and Democracy

Good news is everywhere, but it's widely ignored. There's good news about energy supplies (increasing), economic innovation (thriving), and Third World democracy (all-time high). The facts

By Loretta Breuning

/ September 18, 2012

Good News about Energy, Economy, and Democracy

How To Be Non-Partisan Without Getting Your Throat Slit

Life throws me chances to practice being independent every day. Yesterday, I landed in the middle of a political conversation when I sat down to get my hair cut. The

By Loretta Breuning

/ September 10, 2012

How To Be Non-Partisan Without Getting Your Throat Slit

Brain Chemicals Cause Herd Behavior in Politics

Brain chemicals cause herd behavior in politics. When a mammal runs with the herd, its brain releases a chemical called oxytocin. That produces a pleasant feeling, which motivates the mammal

By Loretta Breuning

/ August 27, 2012

Brain Chemicals Cause Herd Behavior in Politics